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rachaelsreadingnook's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
srwbos's review against another edition
5.0
The thing about this book is that you need to carve out some time and just read read read until you get swept up in it and can’t put it down. The first 1/3 or so I read in 10 page bits and the changing viewpoints/times seemed jarring and disjointed. But when I finally gave it the time it deserved this book amazed me. The writing style is unique and every word is there for a reason. The tiny nuanced details about the characters truly brought them to life. This is a devastating and beautiful story.
miszjeanie's review
4.0
So glad I finally got around to reading WHISKEY AND RIBBONS. I read this warm novel in one sitting! The novel follows ballerina, Evi, her husband Eamon, and his adopted brother Dalton. When Eamon who is a cop is killed in the line of duty when his wife is nine months pregnant, his brother moves in to help the devastated Evi. The novel opens six months after Eamon’s death as Dalton and Evi realize they’ve fallen in love even as they’re both still grieving.
I liked many things about this book but my favorite thing was Lessa Cross - Smith’s uncanny ability to portray intimacy. Eamon and Dalton are two vulnerable, sensitive, loving young black men affectionate both with each other and their partners. I also enjoyed reading Eamon’s side of the story and getting to know him — I think the book would’ve been incomplete without that POV.
Still, the characters in this book are far from perfect — Eamon was pretty close though. Dalton’s unhealthy relationships, Evi’s constant need to be reassured, and all the smoking in this book were mildly off-putting. •
Overall, I enjoyed this read, even more, because of the @thereadingwomen episode with the author. I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.
I liked many things about this book but my favorite thing was Lessa Cross - Smith’s uncanny ability to portray intimacy. Eamon and Dalton are two vulnerable, sensitive, loving young black men affectionate both with each other and their partners. I also enjoyed reading Eamon’s side of the story and getting to know him — I think the book would’ve been incomplete without that POV.
Still, the characters in this book are far from perfect — Eamon was pretty close though. Dalton’s unhealthy relationships, Evi’s constant need to be reassured, and all the smoking in this book were mildly off-putting. •
Overall, I enjoyed this read, even more, because of the @thereadingwomen episode with the author. I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.
bookgirlmagic's review
5.0
“Women, you are sleek and gorgeous. You hold us together, you’re the ribbons. We’re men. Dangerous only if you take us too seriously. We’re the whiskey. To whiskey and ribbons,”
This book has just locked in a spot as one of my favorite reads so far in 2018. Brilliantly written. I'm truly enjoying books that are written from different characters perspectives. Especially when it's the same event or conversation done multiple times but from each perspective. I loved hearing how each character felt.
I will admit that for the first couple of chapters, I was confused as to the race of the characters. I really imagined them as Caucasian until a few chapters in when Frances (Dalton's on and off again girlfriend) makes one of her many sarcastic comments and makes it clear what race they all are. I kind of had to laugh at myself on this one. Even with that, I loved the bond that Eamon, Evangeline and Dalton shared. It's like something I've never seen. They truly are big-hearted individuals that have a love between them like no other. Although they've all lost and been hurt at different stages in their lives, they were there for one another to help cope with the pain. It truly was a team effort throughout the book. You've got my back and I've got yours.
Not even sure I can pick a favorite character. Each of them tugged at my heart strings in some way leaving me wanting more from the story (in a good way). I give this novel a well-deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This should definitely be added to everyone's summer reading list!
This book has just locked in a spot as one of my favorite reads so far in 2018. Brilliantly written. I'm truly enjoying books that are written from different characters perspectives. Especially when it's the same event or conversation done multiple times but from each perspective. I loved hearing how each character felt.
I will admit that for the first couple of chapters, I was confused as to the race of the characters. I really imagined them as Caucasian until a few chapters in when Frances (Dalton's on and off again girlfriend) makes one of her many sarcastic comments and makes it clear what race they all are. I kind of had to laugh at myself on this one. Even with that, I loved the bond that Eamon, Evangeline and Dalton shared. It's like something I've never seen. They truly are big-hearted individuals that have a love between them like no other. Although they've all lost and been hurt at different stages in their lives, they were there for one another to help cope with the pain. It truly was a team effort throughout the book. You've got my back and I've got yours.
Not even sure I can pick a favorite character. Each of them tugged at my heart strings in some way leaving me wanting more from the story (in a good way). I give this novel a well-deserved ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This should definitely be added to everyone's summer reading list!
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
(AUDIOBOOK) OH MY LORD THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ/LISTENED TO ALL YEAR!!! Okay, enough with the shouting, but for real. I listened to this one and it was FABULOUS. Absolutely fabulous. Heartbreaking and hopeful and sweet and spiritual and musical. I'm sure it's just as good on the page, but the narration was fabulous and definitely added to the story for me.
robynryle's review against another edition
5.0
Prepare to go slow. Prepare to meander through this novel. Take your time. Settle in like a snow day. Get comfy with tea and whiskey and good food and characters having conversations that sound just like yours. Get ready for delicious little word morsels and a perfect rendering of love, in all its manifestations. Know that when you're done, you'll miss living inside this novel. You'll want to go back.
lneff514's review against another edition
5.0
So beautiful. It only took reading one sentence* in a book review to make me buy this book... and I'm so glad I bought it. Beautiful writing - different metaphors that were lovely and unexpected, but not drippy-sweet.
It did have a lot more profanity and sexual content than I expected. But, it was not over the top.
And, I cried my eyes out at the end. Always a good thing, in my mind! :)
*"I was a widow - a word so ghostly and hollow, a word that should've been a palindrome but wasn't, those w's with their arms stretched wide, begging for mercy."
...I mean, COME ON. I will (almost daily) whisper that sentence to myself and just sigh at the power and beauty of it.
It did have a lot more profanity and sexual content than I expected. But, it was not over the top.
And, I cried my eyes out at the end. Always a good thing, in my mind! :)
*"I was a widow - a word so ghostly and hollow, a word that should've been a palindrome but wasn't, those w's with their arms stretched wide, begging for mercy."
...I mean, COME ON. I will (almost daily) whisper that sentence to myself and just sigh at the power and beauty of it.
kerickertful's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Easy fluff. The audiobook was great. Don’t think i would’ve made it through reading this.
lesliemoore72's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I found myself thinking about Evi, Eamon & Dalton for days after I finished reading. The morning after I finished I couldn't wait to get back to their story, and then I realized there wasn't more to read, and it made me kind of sad. What first attracted me to this book was the title and location - Kentucky. A chunk of my heart is in Kentucky. As I was drawn into the story, I discovered parts of it take place in the U.P. What?!! My two favorite places in one book. Whiskey & Ribbons is told from three perspectives. The writing is really beautiful. I'm very happy I finally gave this one my time after sitting on my TBR the longest of any other book.
bericson13's review against another edition
4.0
an achingly beautiful story of love and grief and hope and healing and family. this was gorgeous and hopeful.